Swell pedal-action for pipe-organs



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. M. SKINNER. SWELL PEDAL ACTION FOR PIPE ORGANS. No. 500,040. PatentedJune 20, 1893.

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(No Model.)

Patented June 20, 1893.

INVENTOR By A4 ttorney W/TNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST M. SKINNER, OF SOMERVILLE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GEORGE S. HUTCHINGS, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

SWELL PEDAL-ACTION FOR PlPE-ORGANS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 500,040, dated June 20, 1893.

Application filed October 29, 1892. Serial No. 450,341. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST M. SKINNER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Somerville, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Swell Pedal-Actions for Pipe-Organs, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in swell pedal actions for pipe organs and it consists in interposing between the swell folds or shutters and the swell pedal, pneumatically actuated balanced bellows or similar pneumatic device by which arrangement the swell folds of a pipe organ may be operated by a very light foot pressure, sufficient only to move the valve mechanism for conducting the pneumatic pressure to the pneumatic device by which swell folds are actuated.

The invention is carried out as follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 represents a vertical section of the pneumatic action, showing the swell folds, pedal and connections to the pneumatic device in elevation. Fig. 2 represents a horizontal section on the line 2-2 shown in Fig. 1-.' Fig. 3 represents an enlarged central lon gitudinal section of the valve chest and its valves. Fig. 4 represents an end elevation of the pneumatic device. Fig. 5 represents a vertical section on the line 55 shown in Fig. 2; and Fig. 6 represents asimilar section on the line 66 shown in Fig. 2.

Similar letters refer to similar parts wherever they occur on the different parts of the drawings.

In Figs. 1 and 2, A, A, represents the hinged swell folds or shutters of a pipe organ as usual connected to a rod A to which is pivoted at a the rod 13 which is connected in any suitable manner to the bellows of the pneumatic device; I have shown in the drawings the connection B as a single straight rodbut in practice a series of rods and knee levers may be employed according to the relative positions of the swell folds and the pneumatic action without departing from the essence of my invention.

O in Figs. 1 and 2 represent the swell pedal which is pivoted at G to a stationary bracket 0 attached to any stationary portion of the base of the organ as usual.

The pneumatic device which I have shown interposed between the swell pedal and the swell folds consists of a pair of balanced bellows D andE, the inner parts of which are attached to the stationary channel board F as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6; d and e are the movable ends of the respective bellows D, E, which ends are connected together by means of braces G, G, so as to cause the inflation of one of the bellows to close the opposite one and vice versa according to which one of the bellows the wind pressure is for the time being conducted.

To the channel board F is attached in a suitable manner a valve chest having middle pressure chamber H, which is connected by means of pipe h to any suitable source of pneumatic pressure. On the opposite sides of the pressure chamber H are arranged the respective chambers I and K from which lead the respective conduits i and 7.; to the corresponding bellows D and E as shown in the drawings.

I is a division wall between the middle chamber 11 and chamber I which wall has a port or opening i normally closed by means of a suitable valve 1".

K is a corresponding division wall between the chambers II and K, which wall is likewise provided with a port or opening 79 normally closed by means of a corresponding valve K.

L is the outer end of the chamber I provided with an exhaust port or opening Z which is normally closed by means of a suitable valve L held against the outside of the valve chest end L by means of a suitable spring Z as shown.

M is the outer end of the chamber K, having exhaust port on covered by a valve M which is normally held against the outside of the valve chest end M by means of a suitable spring on as shown.

N is the screw threaded valve rod which passes loosely through the valves L, I ,.I and M and on such valve rod are located adjustable nuts *6" and 7;", Z, m", against the corresponding valves L, I, K, and M so as to cause the valves L, 'K" to be opened by moving the rod N in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 3, and causing the valves 1, M, to be opened when moving said rod N in the opposite direction.

92 is a coiled spring arranged on the rod N between the valves I, K" for the purpose of holding one of said valves closed when the other one is being opened.

I desire however to state that the particularconstruction and arrangement of the aforesaid valve chest and valves is not essential and I do not wish to confine myself to the use of spring pressed puppet valves shown in the drawings as any other valves such as for instance, slide valves may be used to equal advantage, it being only necessary to use a suitable valve mechanism by means of which the pneumatic pressure may be alternately conducted to the respective bellows D and E, by actuating the foot pedal 0.

O is what I term a following lever having its upper end connected in a suitable manner to the valve rod N and having its lower end pivoted at O to the movable bellows board 6, or to a link e connected to the latter as shown in Figs. 1 and 6.

The treadle C may be positively connected in any suitable manner to the following lever O, and I have shown for this purpose in Fig. 1, a knee lever P pivoted on a stationary-ful- ,crum at p and connected in one end by means of a link 19 to the treadle O and in its other end to the lever O by means of a link 1) which is pivoted at O" to the lever O at a point between its upper and lower ends, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6.

The operation of the invention is as follows: If the bellows D, E, are in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6 and the operator desires to open the swell shutters more or less all that is necessary to do is to slightly depress the pedal C, causing the lever O to turn on its'lower fulcrum O by which the valves L and 'I are opened, by which the pneumatic pressure from the chamber II is conducted through valve opening chamber K and conduit it into the bellows E by which the latter is inflated at the same time as the wind in the bellows D is free to pass out through conduit 7:, chamberIand exhaust port Z. As soon as the operator stops the further depression of the treadle, the pivot 0" becomes the fulcrum on which the lever O is turned during the inflation of the bellows E, by which the upper end of said lever O is moved in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 1,causing the valves L and K to be automatically closed and the bellows D, E, and swell shutters to be held stationary in the desired position. A still further depression of the treadle will cause a repetition of the movement of the lever O, the valves, bellows and shutters connected thereto. The raising of the treadle causes a corresponding closing movement to be imparted to the swell folds by the inflation of the bellows D and exhaust of the bellows E. By this arrangement and use of a floating lever, with movable fulcra, the operator is enabled to place the pneumatic balanced bellows, and swell folds connected thereto, in any desired position corresponding to the position of the foot and treadle; and the pneumatic action will exactly follow the movement of the foot both as to speed and distance within its capacity. By this my invention a most exact and perfect control of the motion of the swell folds or shutters is obtained with a minimum of power necessary for such motion.

Having thus fully described the nature, construction, and operation of my invention, I wish to secure by Letters Patent and.claim- 1. In a pneumatic swell pedal action for pipe organs, a pair of balanced bellows and valve mechanism connected together by a floating lever having a changeable fulcrum and a pedal connected to the latter, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a pneumatic swell pedal action for pipe organs, the combination of a pair of balanced bellows, a valve mechanism for controlling and limiting the relative movements of same in either direction, and a following lever having a changeable fulcrum and pedal attachment, connecting the said balanced bellows with said valve mechanism substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 22d day of October, A. D. 1892.

ERNEST M. SKINNER.

Witnesses:

ALBAN ANDREN, ALICE A. PERKINS. 

